One of the many distinctive aspects of New Orleans is its approach to cemeteries. Rather than just rows of headstones, the burial grounds of the Crescent City often feature unique, aboveground tombs. These structures create an atmosphere of something not unlike a neighborhood. This is so much the case that the great American humorist, Mark Twain, referred to the cemeteries of New Orleans as “cities of the dead.”
While visiting New Orleans, there were two vampire-themed establishments that were on my “must see” list. One was a restaurant known as the New Orleans Vampire Café. The other was a shop called the Boutique du Vampyre. Located right near each other in the French Quarter, they’re a great way to add some vampiric flare to your time in the Crescent City.
In New Orleans’ French Quarter, there is a stately home that is often a stop on walking tours. According to local legend, this house was once the residence of an immortal vampire. In the early 20th century, this charismatic figure entertained high society while surreptitiously feeding on the city’s citizens. Some say he was the famed Count of St. Germain, who had charmed the courts of Europe in centuries past.
In the French Quarter of New Orleans sits the Old Ursuline Convent. It is a stately building that is centuries old and rich in history. Interestingly, a vampire legend has become attached to this place. Some say that, during the colonial period, the convent became home (or perhaps a prison) to a group of vampires known as the Casket Girls.
